The second round of the League Cup takes centre stage this midweek, with 23 games straddled across three nights.
This is the round when the Premier League sides not in Europe enter the competition so all eyes will be on how the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham and Everton fare.
Six top flight teams are in action on Tuesday and two of them meet at the City Ground in the round’s only all-Premier League tie. Nottingham Forest and Leeds United reconvene just three days after their league opener last Saturday. Forest will be gunning for revenge after the Whites sneaked a 1-0 win at the weekend.
Elsewhere on Tuesday three of the other four PL sides are away at EFL opposition. Brentford are at Birmingham City, Hull – fresh from an opening day mauling of Manchester United – go to Stoke and Coventry make the lengthy trip down to Plymouth. Ipswich Town host League One Leicester City on Tuesday.
Other intriguing ties on Tuesday include West Ham, yet to win since their return to the Championship, go to fellow second tier side Southampton, whilst a sprinkling of League One sides will aiming for upsets against second tier opposition: Doncaster host Middlesbrough, who they thrashed 4-0 at this stage of the competition last season, and Sheffield Wednesday face an intriguing home tie against Wolves.
Wednesday night sees four matches take place with David Moyes taking his Everton side back to his old club Preston North End. Spurs host Charlton in a London derby, attempting to get over their first day tanking at the hands of Brentford. Also on Wednesday, Newcastle, winners of this cup two years ago, host West Bromwich.
Thursday sees two matches scheduled, owing to Fulham and Chelsea meeting in the league on Monday night. Both are at home to League One sides, with Chelsea hosting Jack Wilshere’s Luton and the Cottagers welcoming AFC Wimbledon.
